more random things

My husband made a pecan pie!  He has been off all sweets for months (by choice) and he has been planning to have pecan pie as a reward.
I had saved a piece of our Thanksgiving pecan pie in the freezer but he wanted to try making one himself.

He looked up recipes online, bought his ingredients and turned out a lovely and delicious pie.

He did use a Pillsbury crust but they as good as homemeade.  Nice work, Lonnie!

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A friend of mine told me she was doing a big kitchen cleaning in January...sorting, organizing, tossing.  She said she had found a jar of spices that expired 9 years ago!

This made me think I'd better check my spices to see what was outdated.  Mine were okay but I did find this 20 year old package of food coloring!

I can't even remember the last time I used food coloring. The bottle of red was missing...probably used in strawberry pie.  I pitched the whole package in the trash. I don't think I will miss it.

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Can you see the erie glowing eyes in the photo below.  That is Puss - being bad.

I heard her jumping up there when my back was turned but it was too late to stop her.
I though I had her trained not to jump on the kitchen counters.

There was nothing I could do so I pretended not to see her but kept an eye on her with my phone camera until she got back down...to fridge...to counter...to floor.  I scolded her. I hope she made the connection and realized I don't want her to jump up there.

I have read that a few squirts of water from a spray bottle can discourage this type of thing. I think I will have one ready in case she tries it again, but I don't want to freak her out so bad that she hurts herself getting down...the little barbarian.

dryer balls

Not much has been going on around here. All I really have to write about are these new dryer balls.
I hope you can keep from dozing off!

I had heard about these a while back. They are wool balls - a bit bigger than a tennis ball. You put them in your clothes dryer while your clothes are drying and they supposedly help things dry more evenly and eliminate static and help with wrinkles.

I have used mine a few times and I think they might help with all that a little bit.  The best thing about them is that they let me know when the dryer cycle is finished because the sound of them klonking around in there stops.

You can buy them on line but I found mine at W-mart. This box of 3 was just under $10.

I have the little flannel quilt put together except for borders.   I am considering not adding the borders.  If I stop here it will measure about 44" x 56"....really a perfect size for a crib or toddler quilt.

If I add the borders It would finish out at about 56" x 68" "(not sewn on here  - just seeing how it would look).   That's getting awfully large to use as a baby gift quilt.

This is a close up of the border print fabric.  I didn't choose it - it came with the kit.

I will probably end up adding it on for borders.  I think it adds interest and besides, what else am i going to do with it?

I found this scary photo when I was transferring pictures from my camera.  It took me a second to figure out exactly what it was.  It looked like some wrinkly body part that I'd never seen before!

It's the side of my hand!   I accidentally snapped the photo while I was taking pictures of items for Ebay.

Gosh almighty...when did it start looking like that?  I need some lotion or a tan...or both!

still sewing the flannel quilt

I have all the blocks sewn for the flannel quilt and I'm starting to sew them into rows. It's a smallish quilt so it's going pretty fast.  I like these colors...mostly.   I don't really like orange next to green.

I am pressing the seams open rather than to one side so there isn't such a big ridge at the seam.

Puss likes to help with the lay out.

But she is a bit possessive when it's time to put things away!

I am thinking ahead as to what I will use as a backing for this quilt.  It would seem strange to use regular cotton on the back since the front is snuggly with the flannel.

If I used flannel on the back would it be too thick?  Would I use batting inside too?

Hmm, I will keep thinking about it.

the Sasquatch made gift tags

I have all the holiday decorations packed away now but I wanted to show these personalized gift tags that the Sasquatch made.  I will be using them as tree ornaments each year.

He is quite the multi-talented fellow. These are cross stitched....

"LJH" for Lonnie, and "Mom" for me!  He added the year, 2018 on the back.  He did a nice job and I really like the colors and the design he used for my tag.  Of course Lonnie's is nice too - but more manly.

Even better...mine was attached to a stack of fabric that the Sasquatch picked out as my gift.  I have been combing through my quilt pattern books trying to decide what quilt I will make from it.

Actually, the Sasquatch had cross stitched a gift tag last year too.  Isn't this one sweet?

Totally unexpected.

Thanks again, Sasquatch!

Also Christmas related...on Christmas Eve I won this pattern in a give-away on a quilter's blog I like to read...Timeless Traditions / Norma Whaley.

Believe me, I never win anything and mostly don't even try. But, I was up early and beat everyone else to it.

This is an applique pattern - which I'm not very skilled at. But this one uses wool for the applique so that means no turning the edges under. It should be easier.

I like her designs and now I feel kind of bad because I copied this quilt of hers a couple of years ago without buying her pattern.  

That's not very nice but I will try to do better.  It can be my New Years resolution.

And a photo of poor grumpy Puss.  Having to stay inside with this rainy weather.  

You can tell by those laid back ears she she doesn't like it one bit!